Objectives: (1) To document the efficacy of brain injury awareness education and prevention through a structured educational activity and a give away of free multisport helmet. (2) To identify target groups within the US Military community for future brain injury awareness promotion campaigns. Hypothesis: By providing an educational activity on brain injury mechanisms and sequelae and giving away a helmet to students and adults, participants will be more inclined to wear a helmet during nonmotorized sport activities. The use of helmets during nonmotorized sports activities will increase in the target population when effective education and a free helmet is provided. Participants: Participants were students, aged 6-18 and adults from the Washington, DC, area, including Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Norfolk, Va. Participants were from both civilian and military communities. Methods: After a brief education activity on brain injury, each participant completed a 10-question survey before receiving a multisport helmet with a brain graphic on the outer shell. Survey items included demographics such as age, gender, helmet use, type of activity, and enforcement of helmet. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: Preliminary results show that overall helmet use is lower in children older than 13, and adults, than among children younger than 12 who have an adult participating with them in the nonmotorized sport. Children and adults were more inclined to wear a helmet after learning about brain injury and function. Conclusions: We documented low awareness of helmet usage and brain injury among the sample population, which emphasizes the need for more brain injury awareness and injury prevention activities. Target groups for further helmet and brain injury awareness promotion campaigns include adolescents and adults, in both high- and low-income communities where military units are located.

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